# What were you THINKING? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 13, 2023, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532 "2023-10-13T19:36:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 280
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/5883 "2025-12-04T16:12:35Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I’m gonna bet there was something there that was triggering his religion. IOW, it’s vitally important to him that the correct term be used for his clergy. It wasn’t even _his_ religion; AFAICT, he’s not Catholic, but his ex-wife was. And that was his primary original “cite” in the “who married you?” thread: that his ex-wife and his ex-MIL would have _vehemently_ disagreed that a priest is a minister. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/5884 "2025-12-04T16:28:21Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > It struck me as odd too because I don’t think of a rabbi as a “minister” but it was very clear that the OP meant “member of the clergy” and I moved on. It was unimportant to the thread which has become very interesting. And “member of the clergy” is an accepted definition of the word “minister”. > **[Minister Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/minister)** > > MINISTER meaning: 1 : a person whose job involves leading church services, performing religious ceremonies (such as marriages), and providing spiritual or religious guidance to other people a member of the clergy in some Protestant churches; 2 : an... > a person whose job involves leading church services, performing religious ceremonies (such as marriages), and providing spiritual or religious guidance to other people So, anyone performing a marriage ceremony on behalf of any religion can be accurately called a “minister” as a description, even though that’s not their title or even a term used in that religion. Or more generically: > **[Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words](https://www.dictionary.com/browse/minister)** > > The world's leading online dictionary: English definitions, synonyms, word origins, example sentences, word games, and more. A trusted authority for 25+ years! > a person authorized to conduct religious worship; member of the clergy But that thread was definitely not the time to be having that debate. That thread, to me, seems like the poster child for why the hijack rule exists. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/5885 "2025-12-04T16:30:30Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > And “member of the clergy” is an accepted definition of the word “minister”. Fine. It didn’t matter there and it doesn’t matter here. I was just describing my initial reaction. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/5886 "2025-12-04T16:30:52Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > But that thread was definitely not the time to be having that debate. I encouraged him, twice – once in the original thread, and once in the ATMB thread that he opened up to complain about not being allowed to correct people the way he wants – that, if it was an important topic for him, to open up a dedicated thread. Clearly, it wasn’t _actually_ an important topic for him, as he hasn’t done so. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/5887 "2025-12-04T16:30:57Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Fine. It didn’t matter there and it doesn’t matter here. I was just describing my initial reaction. I 100% agree with you on all counts. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/5888 "2025-12-04T16:32:56Z")
I really don’t think we should delve too deeply into the topic itself here. But yeah, it’s “this makes me uncomfortable” weird to have that disproportionate and tenacious response to a literally trivial issue which was graciously acknowledged and clarified by the “perpetrator”, when “just walk away from this entirely voluntary poll” was always the correct answer. There’s fighting the hypothetical, and then there’s commiting to full-on unlimited warfare to the death with it. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/5889 "2025-12-04T16:34:13Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > I really don’t think we should delve too deeply into the topic itself here. What was I THINKING? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/5890 "2025-12-04T16:34:53Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > There’s fighting the hypothetical, and then there’s commiting to full-on unlimited warfare to the death with it. Pretty much. [![](https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/duty_calls.png) ](https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/duty_calls.png) ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/5891 "2025-12-04T16:38:41Z")
He was giving off serious Walter Sobchak vibes. “Am I the ONLY ONE who gives a shit about the rules!?!” “Calmer than you are.” ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/5892 "2025-12-04T16:41:43Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > He was giving off serious Walter Sobchak vibes. He probably needs a new avatar. [![](https://www.jewornotjew.com/img/people/w/walter_sobchak.jpg) ](https://www.jewornotjew.com/img/people/w/walter_sobchak.jpg) Damn, that looks fitting too. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/5893 "2025-12-04T20:08:31Z")
> [@stretch](#): > > Do you not remember the [‘uppity’](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-needs-to-have-a-banned-words-list/978494) thread? He is frequently an asshole. I forgot about that one. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/5894 "2025-12-04T20:19:24Z")
Amateur psycho analysis: **Whack-a-Mole** is on the autism spectrum and sometimes gets fixated on a particular idea. I’m sure they’re frustrated as much as we are. That doesn’t excuse the behavior–they still need to figure out how to correct it–but it does explain it. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2025, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/5895 "2025-12-04T20:30:20Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > I forgot about that one. I did too, and when I saw it, I thought it looked familiar. And it turns out I posted 7 times in it, so I certainly should have thought it was familiar. 😆 ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2025, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/5896 "2025-12-05T14:47:20Z")
We have an unusual new contender over the last couple of days. **griffin1977** is the OP of this thread: **[Search results for ‘in:title pizzas after:2025-12-04 before:2025-12-05’ - Straight Dope Message Board](https://boards.straightdope.com/search?q=in%3Atitle%20pizzas%20after%3A2025-12-04%20before%3A2025-12-05%20order%3Alatest_topic)**. In there he’s got a single-minded devotion to the idea Google should be able to conjur up a search result for specifically a _personal_ sized pizza made from pre-made dough including explicit instructions on _exactly_ how to portion out the dough from a larger package. And the lack of that result is all Google’s fault. At 50 posts and no learning this is now getting silly. Not mean-spirited, just silly. Their frustration is palpable. I label it an entertaining light-hearted read if you’ve not yet seen it. 🙂 Besides, it’s all about pizza! ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2025, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/5897 "2025-12-05T15:14:57Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > In there he’s got a single-minded devotion to the idea Google should be able to conjur up a search result for specifically a _personal_ sized pizza made from pre-made dough including explicit instructions on _exactly_ how to portion out the dough from a larger package. And the lack of that result is all Google’s fault. Well, we all have our own pet peeves. You might say this is his personal pizza pan. 😏 ---
**Author:** ![We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/We_re_wolves_not_werewolves)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2025, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/5898 "2025-12-05T15:36:24Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > Amateur psycho analysis: **Whack-a-Mole** is on the autism spectrum Don’t do this. It’s complete irresponsible and disrespectful to speculate like that. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2025, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/5899 "2025-12-05T15:40:17Z")
I also think it’s useless. The thing about a spectrum is that it can encompass everything. So, technically speaking _everyone_ is on the spectrum, it just depends on where you fall on it. From that perspective, it’s not so much disrespectful as it’s redundant. That’s like saying, I bet he posts like that because he has DNA in him. ---
**Author:** ![We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/We_re_wolves_not_werewolves)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2025, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/5900 "2025-12-05T15:46:36Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > In there he’s got a single-minded devotion to the idea Google should be able to conjur up a search result for specifically a _personal_ sized pizza made from pre-made dough including explicit instructions on _exactly_ how to portion out the dough from a larger package. And the lack of that result is all Google’s fault. lol, the fussy banality of that entire thread is fucking hilarious ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2025, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/5901 "2025-12-05T15:57:14Z")
> [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](#): > > the fussy banality of that entire thread is fucking hilarious I read the first post and decided it wasn’t worth my time. I just went back and was astounded to discover that there are 56 replies. But then I’ve never made my own personal pizza, so I shouldn’t judge. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2025, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532/5902 "2025-12-05T16:16:51Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > But then I’ve never made my own personal pizza, so I shouldn’t judge. I have. The first few efforts are pretty disheartening. And often messy. Tastes OK, just don’t look at it. Nor look at your oven. Sheesh! After a few though, you get the gist of pizza and after that it’s pretty foolproof. It’s certainly not a precision operation; close enough good enough is all the fussing it needs. Once you learn to avoid the gross errors and have accumulated the couple of pizza-specific tools and skills. > [@Railer13](#): > > I read the first post and decided it wasn’t worth my time. I just went back and was astounded to discover that there are 56 replies. Try it again. It sorta grows on you after awhile. Like the hankering for a good pizza. > [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](#): > > lol, the fussy banality of that entire thread is fucking hilarious That totally nails it. Well played Good Sir! You win this section of the thread. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=279) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-were-you-thinking/991532.md?page=281)